I want to do the Zodiac on ElCap next week and want to know what to wear to keep me dry if it rains and snows. thanks for your suggestions. I say some previous threads on this subject but they are all at least 5 years old so thot there might be something new.

WBraun: That is probably perfect if it were pouring rain or if I were in a waterfall (I know those situations are possible but we will use avoidance as much as possible to protect us from those situations) I was looking for something that would be more versatile.

No I haven't. Are you serious about that body suit? Where do I get one. I am going with a climber that has done the nose in less than 4 hours so avoidance might be more of a possibility than with a normal climber. (we can probably rap in short order)

Werner is right. At a minimum I would go with a kayak style top, one that has a neoprene neck cuff and wrist cuffs. Last time I was in a storm up there nailing away in regular rain gear the ice water was going in my sleeves and fire-hosing out my pant legs.

The only thing that will really keep you dry up there is steepness. Once you start futzing around in the rain or water or anything else, you are probably in a heap of sh#t. Stay dry at all costs.

Oh... and YER GONNA DIE!!!

to add: go up fat. During my "event" I started the wall weighing about 180 lbs. When I got down I weighed 162. I'm glad I had a lot of ass to burn and needed it all.

Johnr9q, I just returned home at 1200 miles and some change, after two days of humping loads to Zodiac. Seven days invested door to door. Total trip expenses were $1250. Why leave the valley without doing the Zodiac?

I do walls solo most of the time. Most of my climbing is winter. Zodiac is well within my ability. I already have the proper gear and experience.

Answer, the forcast just was not right, and as stated above, YOSAR is not part of any plans. My forcast was only wet with more wet. A storm would likely end all wall climbing forever. Worth the risk. Not in my book.

I would really wish everone would rethink things as such this. But then the trip reports would be mediocre, and not epic after epic. See the thread about rappelling the nose. Stuff happens on it's own, starting with a probable problem built into the plan. Epic at best case.

You might take into consideration your feet also (not sure if anyone has covered that). I know of one person that I climbed with who got severe frostbite on his feet. Hampered his climbing for some time. Not sure if he fully recovered. That took place high on the NA wall. Standing and belaying his partner in an icy waterfall. Not sure what type of covering you could use in that type of situation.

edit: maybe that suit that WB posted.

He couldn't freeclimb at all for awhile. And he lived in the Valley full time and generally did it almost everydy. Worked for the guide school. Had to slowly ease back into climbing and leading relatvely easy free climbs since he had no, or little feeling in his feet. So, it can get real serious up there (like someone already said).

19. Joseph E. Crowe, 12/28/2002. He was fixing to pitch 4 on Zodiac
when a sudden snowstorm blew in. He called for help at 7:30pm,
but when the rescuers arrived at 11pm, he had died, probably
from hypothermia. He was at the end of a rope, 25' off the
ground when the rescue party found him.